Airbus probes A321neo coatings flaw as repair plan eases disruption
The flaw was discovered when a technician scraped paint from a fuselage part only to find gaps in the protective primer underneath.
Airbus and Italy's Leonardo are investigating a glitch at a coatings supplier that impacted 500 of Airbus' A321neo planes, according to sources familiar with the matter. The flaw, discovered on September 25, was found when technicians scraped paint from a fuselage part and found gaps in the protective primer underneath. Airbus and Leonardo teams are now working at coatings supplier TESI, a Leonardo sub-contractor, to investigate the issue and identify its cause.
TESI did not respond to requests for comment, and Airbus did not name any suppliers. The problem involves strengthening rods called stringers in one section of the forward fuselage, raising concerns over quality controls and points of vulnerability in the supply chain. Airbus has two suppliers for that section, including Leonardo and its own in-house supplier, Airbus Atlantic.
The affected planes include 250 at various stages of production, with a two-year repair period instead of the usual four-year maintenance cycle. The primer's absence does not pose an immediate safety risk, but analysts warn that this second fuselage glitch in less than a year could put pressure on Airbus' delivery targets for 2026.
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